Gotlandsdricka, meaning “Drink of the Good Land”, is believed to have been the beer of the Vikings. Our rendition of this ancient style is inspired by the traditional farmhouse ales once brewed on the island of Gotland, off the coast of Sweden. Unfiltered, unpasteurized, and naturally-conditioned.

Beer: Reviews & Ratings

Poured from a 750ml bottle with the awesome label art into a hollow drinking horn.

Appearance - Golden yellow, like a Wheat or DIPA, slightly opaque. Poured with a 1 inch thick white foam head, which dissipated within a few minutes. Some carbonation, not much.

Smell - Tart, bready, and smokey. A little farmhouse funk right along with the smoke, but not much. Almost like old bacon you've had in the fridge check to see if it's still good, and yes, it still is. Haha. Others may be able to detect more. My sense of smell sucks.

Taste - Awesome! Light and bready at first, you can definitely taste the rye, followed by the smoke, which is delicate and non offensive. It's actually really great, and doesn't overpower any of the other flavors. Brick oven pizza crust? After the smoke fades, you can taste a hint of the Juniper and the Gale, which linger into a slight bitterness as they fade.It's very refreshing for a beer with smoke on the palette, which my friends and I usually find ourselves sipping. I didn't detect any farmhouse funk at all, unlike the nose, but really I didn't want it. It's perfect the way it is. Although as it warmed up, it did take on a sourdough bread-like quality.

Mouth feel - The mouth feel is light with with a malty slickness, like a toned down wheat beer. It has a light carbonation that complements all of the other attributes terrifically. Like I said about the taste, it's very refreshing.

This beer wasn't quite what I was expecting, somehow I was expecting something more like a Sahti. I guess it was because I didn't really know what to expect from a style I've never tried before, but I liked it way more than what I was expecting. I'm of Swedish descent, so maybe I just have genetic predisposition to enjoy it? Hah.

Awesome Beer Jester King! Way different from the rest of the lineup. I'm glad I bought as much as I did. I hope you decide to brew it again one day. (1,914 characters)

Jester King Gotlandsdricka 750ml bottled poured into 1 liter Hofbrau stein. This beer is the result of research into the types of beer that the Vikings might have brewed. Jester King presents their interpretation.

Aroma: Starts off with an spicy, herbal, and earthy aroma. It develops into fresh cut grass and lemon . Finally, it transforms into a type of berry (juniper?) with a touch of smoked malts.

Taste: It is like delicious, smoked ribs in liquid form. A strange type of bitterness that is hop-like in nature, but tastes as though it comes from a different source. Not unpleasant, but just different. I believe the "sweet gale" ingredient may play a role in that.

Mouthfeel: Very dry from start to finish. This is a highly carbonated beer, probably being the 1st or 2nd most carbonated beer I've ever had. Body is creamy and full with a chewy finish.

Overall: Definitely an intriguing beer. This will pair amazing with some BBQ and/or smoked rack of ribs. Will definitely buy again when I get the urge to pillage a neighboring city. (1,116 characters)

Chilled 25.4 oz bottle into a JK tulip. First had this at the Texas Craft Brewer's Festival back in October, really liked it then, let's see if that made it into the bottle. Not quite sure if this is actually the same stuff, as at that point I'm fairly sure it was presented as made without hops at all.

Look- Deep gold with three fingers of pillowy head. Excellent retention, not much lace.

Taste- Smoke flavor is stronger than indicated by the aroma, and becomes the dominant flavor towards the end of the sip. Otherwise flavors are very similar to the nose, starts with mild citrus and rolls into light toasted rye, hints of cider and hopping/spicing is cloverlike. Juniper is noticeable. Finishes clean, light mineral flavor. The more I sip, the more it grows on me. On the smokier side for a pale beer, but it actually works well with the other flavors. As it warms, it takes on a fuller, breadier, light honey flavor that kicks the entire thing up a notch. Interestingly enough, in cleanses the palatte and doesn't suffer from the smoky build-up that some rauchbiers suffer from.

Overall- Another unique offering from Jester King. More of an everyday beer than most smoked ales, and like certain sodas, room temp and nearly flat suits it well- let it warm up a bit and savor. I'll certainly pick it up again. (1,622 characters)

Provided by JJ. Served with a large, foamy, frothy, off-white head that lasts all the way down. Color is a hazy amber. Aroma is yeast, smoke, sour, with notes of fruit. Flavor's like nose, smoke is prominant, but not overdone; again a bit tart. Body's decent, good carbonation. Finish is like flavor, fairly easy drinking, would killer to cook with.. (350 characters)

Poured from 750 mL bottle into shaker pint glass.A: Pours a clear straw hue--hint of haze and hint of greenish tint--with moderate carbonation producing a 1 inch white head. Good retention. Hint of lacing.S: An interesting earthy smoke note hits first (like a fire in an earthen lodge). A bit musty with muted spicy citrus hops. Toasted grains. Very interesting...rustic...quite nice.T: Strong, but not overpowering earthy wood smoke is the backbone of this beer. Musty farmhouse quality. Sweet malt with hints of juniper and mild fruit (e.g. grape). Hint of spicy citrus hops in the background. A note of honey emerges with warming.M: Light body. Smooth turning toward a mildly bitter and quite dry finish. Wood smoke lingers nicely on the palate.D: Difficult to compare to style since this is my first Gotlandsdricka. This is an easily drinkable, well-balanced, complex, and yet understated brew. I have had nothing like it and I love it. The drinking experience brings immediately to mind a Viking's existence. Seek it out if you can! (1,042 characters)

I knew once I saw the label on this beer, as happens with every Jester King offering I see, that I'd have to get it. It caught my eye, the evil-looking Viking, so I took a closer look. I was curious of what the style of beer it was. But while the label explains what the beer is like, it doesn't say what it is. That intrigued me further. I have to say, Gotlandsdricka did not disappoint.

If I could best describe the look (and other qualities) of Gotlandsdricka, it'd be that it looks similar to a Belgian golden ale. It has a bright golden color, is cloudy, and produces a fine bubbly and frothy white head. Lacing was not present.

A nice toasted breadiness hits the nose first. It's moderately smoky, just right so that it doesn't mask any other aromatic characteristics. That plus the juniper/gale gives the smell an earthiness. The juniper/gale, and I should say that I can only guess at the characteristics of the gale since this is the first beer I've had that uses it, add a peppery, coniferous spice, not to be confused with the pine resin-like coniferous character present in most pale ales. The farmhouse yeast keeps the beer seeming like a Belgian golden to me. I get a bit of lemon zest in there too.

The taste is much like the smell. Right off the bat there's the toasty light malts with the juniper/gale spiciness following. The smokiness, what Jester King told me via Twitter is birchwood-smoked malt, comes right after, blending in with the toasty malt and spiciness so that you get a nice variety of flavors one after the other but all in harmony. There's an excellent grassy sugar sweetness throughout too that balances perfectly with the rest. Once I let Gotlandsdricka warm up a little, I was greeted with an incredibly well-balanced beer. It's sweet, smoky, spicy, and none of it overpowers the others. This is definitely an interesting beer to the taste buds.

Gotlandsdricka is also very drinkable, lighter in body, and has a nice medium carbonation. It's smooth as silk going down.

I definitely recommend this to anyone. Jester King says it's giving the beer "additional fermentation with wild yeast and souring bacteria. We presently have a version of Gotlandsdricka that we inoculated with wild yeast and bacteria aging in oak barrels." I can't wait! (2,281 characters)

T-smoke flavor up front but not very intimidating. I honestly am not a big fan of this style but I do enjoy this beer. Slightly funky with a bitter juniper berry preesence with some resin in the background,

M-heavy carbonation with a heavy body...blends. Slightly odd with the smoke.

O-a very nice take on the smoked beer style but a little more sweetness would balance this one out better and it is rather bitter. (535 characters)

Got this from the Rare Beer Club. Poured into a stemmed Tired Hands glass.

Gotlandsdricka pours a bright golden yellow with decent clarity and only the slightest bit of haze. (Watch the sediment at the bottom of the bottle) Lots of active carbonation visible through the glass that is supporting a very tight head of tiny white bubbles two finger deep. The head dissipates after a few minutes to a thin layer on top and does not leave any lacing.

Out of the bottle, it carries a light waft of gentle smoke aroma that quickly disappears. What remains is a gentle aroma of metallic wheat, Asian pear, Sweet Gale, Juniper berries, and cracker-like malts. Very light grassy hop aroma in the background.

The taste is much more bold than the aroma. It reminds me of what a smoked pilsner might taste like. Complex smoke character, with multiple types of smoked malts playing against each other. You get the smoke in the exhale and on the roof of your mouth. Mid-palate there is a light sourness and hints of juniper and gale, or at least what I think is the juniper and gale. It is certainly "rustic" and reminds me quite a bit of wild sage.

Good mouthfeel on this beer. With the wheat malt, there is a pleasant creaminess to the medium body. And the carbonation level is up there which lifts the smoked malts across the palate easily.

Pretty decent beer that I am glad I got the chance to try. I am a fan of smoked beers, and this is a bit of a rustic smoke beer that brings something unique to the plate. Inspired by the drink of Gotland, this beer will make you feel like a true Viking. The more I drink this beer, the more I think I love it. You have to approach the beer knowing what goes into the beer, because if you aren't thinking "juniper and sweet gale" you will miss this beer entirely. Pretty awesome beer! (1,819 characters)

"Drink of the good land", eh? This must be Milwaukee's original beer (thank you, Alice Cooper)... Anyway, this stuff pours a hazy gold topped by a couple fingers of white foam. The nose comprises lemon zest, coriander, black pepper, light clove, Belgian yeast, cracked wheat, and a general sense of mild campfire-style smoke. The taste brings in more of the same, with the smoke coming through stronger throughout, creating a fog of sorts on the tongue and fostering an increased sense of earthiness that works with the saison-like surroundings. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, a nice little smoked saison, a unique take on an already varied style. Good times. (749 characters)

S - It's very smoke-forward, with a touch of herbal and bitter juniper in the periphery. The base beer imparts a peppery and mildly phenolic farmhouse ale backdrop, and even though the press release says this is a 'clean' versions I get a mild lactic Berliner Weiss kind of vibe.

T - The taste is quite similar, with smoke dominating the palate and a mildly bitter juniper finish. The peripheral flavors are those of a wheat-forward Saison, and the slight lactic note in the aroma doesn't translate to the flavor.

D - An odd beer, but a fairly enjoyable one. I refilled my glass a few times, and while I wouldn't want this often I'd certainly have it again in the future. I'm actually fairly intrigued by the upcoming 'wild' version. Worth checking out if you like smoked beers. (1,093 characters)

a very clean golden yellow pour with 3 fingers of head and TONS of fizzy bubbles rocketing up the stem of the center of the glass like it's a highway! smells very funky.. band aids comes first to mind, hay, chipotle. smells nice and spicy/smoky. a lot of the band aid flavor pulls through up front, with a nice chipotle pepper finish.. also in the mix i'm getting a really floral flavor.. like flower petals.. very subtle. really digging this one. light body with high carbonation makes this very drinkable. the dryness from the smoked flavors also makes it perfect for hot days like today.

overall i give this a 4. it's a solid beer, and so far one of the best i've had from this brewery. i do love rauchbiers, and this is pretty much one, except i've never had one with these ingredients.. sweet gale and juniper? also the different woods used to smoke these grains are an excellent touch! (892 characters)

Hazed golden straw, big rush of bubbky white head that took a bit to calm down... even felt lik eit grew after thr pour was complete. Scent leads with firm notes of smoke, not very distinguished as the type of wood used, big doughy, bready and yeasty notes, some spice and light fruity tartness. Taste follows suit, smoke up front, bread in the middle, spice and light fruityness on the back end. Lighter side of medium, a touch too bubbly. Interesting, yes... overly memorable, no. (482 characters)

I am very appreciative for Stakem sharing this bottle, a treat to enjoy this after a year in the bottle, thanks Adam!

The color is golden with light hazed and quick dropping white head which becomes a ring of beads with visible carbonation and spots of lace. The smell is smoky with an herbal aroma with light earthy quality and subtle hay like element augmenting the hint of fruity yeast. The feel is earthy with moderately high carbonation and slight dry feel with light spice texture and mild sweetness.

The taste brings a tangy yeast element with light malt quality and slight smoke in the initial flavor impression with subtle spiciness which could also be considered herbal hop with mild yeast tanginess and light malt nuttiness with a slight herbal quality carrying through into the dry crisp finish. This is great with very good drinkability in general -I appreciate the chance to try this old world style and it is every bit as good as I expected. (961 characters)

Appearance: milky white/yellow, no head to speak of aside from a few stray bubbles around the edge.

Smell: lots of herbal pine and bologna. Hints of band aid too.

Taste: this is actually a lot better than I was expecting. Smoke is more subtle, bologna notes are not nearly as strong as on the nose. Lots of fruity tart citrus and herb, which is lovely. Hint of campfire on the finish, with a bitter herbal linger.

Overall: the taste is a lot better than I was expecting, and I love what this beer does in a gin barrel (Viking Metal), but as it is its still a little too weird for me to want to return to regularly. (769 characters)

Didn't have a skull cup to drink out of, as the label recommends, so I used a tulip instead.

Lightly hazed straw gold, and a billowing head of white foam that settles quickly to a skim. No lace to speak of, looks fairly plain and simple, which makes perfect sense.

Aroma is lightly phenolic and yeasty, earthy spices take centerstage. As it warms some light smoke traces waft out also.

Moderate level of smoke, well integrated and not overbearing. The juniper and gale are subdued, and come off more as general spice than anything, with some light bitter phenolics as well. Aftertaste of honeyed malt and soft oak smokiness, a mellow wood-derived astringency cuts through the ample and frothy carbonation. As a historical recreation of an ancient simple smoked ale, it's definitely interesting (especially as a Swede myself) but a little one-note overall. (861 characters)

Overall very interesting and unique, pretty well done but a bit too much residual sugar somehow even with all that carbonation it brings. The smoked malts are nice, as well as sweet gale, juniper is barely detectable mostly and it could have used a bit more bitterness I think. but still a very unique and tasty beer to try. (1,116 characters)

Pours out very effervescent lending itself to a voluminous white head and a bright hazy yellow body filled in with tons of carbonation bubbles.

The smoke is heavy lending meaty and campfire aromas. Earthy, grassy, floral and wheaty notes coming through with a touch of spice and sweetness. It’s cool that you can pick out the different ingredients even with the smoke.

The smoke is there throughout from front to aftertaste. Grass, wheat, yeast, and spice.

Light bodied with plenty of carbonation that is not overdone which is what I was expecting based on the huge head. (576 characters)

A: The beer is clear yellow in color and has a moderate amount of carbonation. It poured with a finger high white head that has very good retention properties and consistently left a thin head covering the surface and some lacing down the sides of the glass. S: Light to moderate aromas of smoked malts are present in the nose along with some hints of juniper berries. T: The taste is similar to the smell and has initial flavors of juniper followed by smoked malts towards the finish. No bitterness is perceptible. M: It feels nearly medium-bodied and slightly chalky on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. O: This beer is easy to drink and has a nice balance between the flavors of juniper and smoked malts. (727 characters)

A: Pours a light golden color. Super cloudy. Not really what I was expecting at all. Foamy 2 finger head that sticks around for a little longer than I was anticipating. Medium lacing on the glass was nice, and also laced the brew.

T: More smoke than anything. Some yeast tastes, and weirdly some tastes of bananas, which is obviously not intended, but works.

M: High carbonation, very dry, light body. As to be expected.

O: I had very little expectations for this one, but I'm glad I had it. First smoky beer I've had like this. Not thick, not stouty, or a porter, but maintained an awesome smoky flavor and had a good light body. I'd drink again. (727 characters)

T/M: Flavor follows the nose but has more powerful smoked oak and herbs. Cardamom, coriander and salty tobacco. Tart white grapes give a profile similar to a smoked sparkling wine. Dry hay and bitter persimmon in the finish. Vivacious body.

O: Really easy drinking for the style. The smoke seems natural and complimenting not forced. Sometimes smoked beers are just plain hard to drink due to the massive smoke profile. This is not the case. This is about six months old so the smoke may have faded a bit but I like it. (773 characters)

The pour is attractive enough, delivering a goldenrod-colored haze of a beer into the glass. A thick white shell of foam builds to an inch and slowly recedes to a veil of tightly packed bubbles. Some proper lace clings to the edges. Huge notes of smoky, meaty phenols greet the nostrils, almost to the detriment of the remainder of the beer. Dig deep enough (if you dare--this is one for the smoke-lovers!), and you get hints of earth, wheat, and bread crust. Still, the smoke aroma is tough to work around in the context of a session.

The flavor dials back the smoke a few levels, thankfully, and lets a bit of light sour and funkiness play through. Hints of tart citrus zest, dried grasses, funky barnyard, and tangy wheat. It's actually pretty well balanced, but the smoke still sticks out from the rest of the beer. Bubbles are ample, and the body of Gotlandsdricka is medium-light on the palate. Clean finish with a hint of smokiness and light fruit. Overall, I found this Jester King offering to be an interesting addition to their lineup. Although it's not something I'll be seeking out again (and not worth the $13 price tag), I'm glad I got a chance to try it. Palate-expanding, to say the least. (1,253 characters)

Jester King Gotlandsdricka has a very thick, pillowy, off-white head and an initially clear, bubbly, yellow-straw appearance, which turns a cloudy, grayish-yellow once the bottom of the bottle is swished and poured in. There is thick lacing left on the glass. Aroma is of a tangy, smoky beer smell, and the flavor is up-front smoke, some sweetness, sourness, white bread, malt, a mild, underlying bitterness, and of a certain gaminess. Mouthfeel is medium, and Jester King Gotlandsdricka finishes semi-dry, overly smoked, and fairly drinkable. Overall, this is a good beer, but they overdid the carbon bit.